Silver Timber logs Churchill Turf Sprint

Silver Timber prevailed in course-and-distance prep for Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (JB Faulconer/EquiSport Photos) The victory in Friday’s $119,100 Churchill Downs Turf Sprint (G3) by SILVER TIMBER (Prime Timber) bodes well for the seven-year-old gelding, owned by Michael Dubb and Grade Racing Stable, who gained significant experience over the same course and distance the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2) will be run over in November. The 5-2 favorite in a field of 11 turf dashers, Silver Timber was always within striking range as Central City (City Place) and the filly Starfish Bay (Elusive Quality) dueled and traded leads through the opening three furlongs. Central City was on top after a quarter in :21 1/5 and opened up a length through a half in :43 2/5, but he could not contain either the favorite or 3-1 second choice Chamberlain Bridge (War Chant), who also stormed from midpack to reach contention in the final furlong. At the wire, it was Silver Timber who benefited from commencing his bid earlier and had a neck lead over Chamberlain Bridge. Julien Leparoux was up for the five-furlong stakes score that was run in a course-record :55.45 on firm ground. The payoffs were $7.40, $4 and $3.20.

“You have to give (trainer) Chad (Brown) a lot of credit,” Dubb said. “His
horses come first. He could have been here and got all the glory, but he stayed
in New York with his horses. Right now as we speak he’s setting up his Saratoga
operation.

Chamberlain Bridge nosed out Central City for the place, giving back $4.20
and $3.20. Central City returned $9.20 at 24-1. Formidable (Sky Mesa) rallied
for fourth at 7-1 and was followed by Moralist (Talk is Money), Starfish Bay,
Barge (Forest Camp), Perfect Officer (Officer), Mitigation (Cherokee Run),
Heavenly Chorus (Unbridled’s Song) and Lit’sgoodlookngray (Lit de Justice). The
exotics paid $26.20 (exacta), $571 (trifecta) and $3,649 (6-3-10-9 superfecta).

Claimed for $25,000 at Gulfstream Park in early April 2009, Silver Timber
captured the Jaipur S. (G3) at Belmont Park two starts later and went on to
capture the Woodford S. (G3) at Keeneland in October. He kicked off his 2010
campaign earlier this month with a neck score in the Shakertown S. (G3), also at
Keeneland. His record now stands at 32-11-3-5, $545,519.

Bred in New York by Sez Who Thoroughbreds, the gray is out of the winning
Alwuhush mare River Princess and was purchased for $110,000 as an OBS April
juvenile. Silver Timber counts as half-siblings the stakes-placed
Inrightclassitime (Straight Man) and an unnamed yearling colt by Bandini. River
Princess is herself a daughter of multiple stakes winner Spanish Play (Great
Gladiator), who also produced Grade 3-placed multiple stakes victor Spanish
Decree (War Deputy) as well as the dam of multiple stakes queen Anne’s Purse
(Porto Foricos). Canadian Grade 2 winner River Boat (Regal Classic) is also in
this family.